Steering means



2 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 14, 1937. B: CHANCE STEERING MEANS Filed Dec.241935 QN m. w

Dec. 14, 1937. CHANCE 2,102,513

STEERING MEANS Filed Dec. 24, 19:55 2 sheets-sheet 2 Arzt/Mfr PatentedDec. 14, -1937 UNITED' vSTATES PATENT OFFICE i1 Claims.

The present invention relates to automatic and other steering means fordirigible Vessels, as Well as to course indicating, recording, andcourse changing means, or in other Words, hand means for steering theship and course indicating and changing mechanism independent of thesteering means Whether hand operated or operated by photo-electriccontrol or by mechanical control; and the objects as Well as theinvention itself will appear from the following description at the endof which the invention will be claimed.

In the following description reference will he made 'to the accompanyingdrawings forming part hereof and in which,

-Figure l is a diagrammatic and schematic View illustrating apparatusembodying tentures oi the invention.

Figure 2 is aside View further illustrating mechanism shown in Figure l,

E@ Figure 3 is an end View of apparatus also illustratecl in Figure l,and

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are diagrams hereinafter reerred to.

Referring to the drawings, I indicates a rudder and 2 the steeringengine provided with followback mechanism, as is Well understood in theart. 3 is a steering Wheel for manually steering the vessel. It isgeared as by provisions 4 and 5 with a shaft or line of shafting Gconnected through the steering engine 2, or in some cases directly withthe rudder. However the vessel may be steered, it is desirable toprovide a course indicator with or without a course recorder which maybe duplicated and arranged at convenient points throughout the ship. Adescription will now be given of such a mechanism. The clutch 'I isdisengaged from the shaft 6 so that the shaft may be turned Withoutaiecting any of the parts connected with the clutch. 8 indicates thecard of a magnetic compass or a gyroscopic compass. At the axis of thecard there is mounted a reflector 8 upon which vfalls a beam of light orradiant energy from the source I0. The mirror or reflector 9 reects thisray into a position fixed in terrestrial space for the reason that it ismounted on the axis of a magnetic compass needle or card. II is acarrier turnably mounted about the axis of the compass card and it isprovided with photo-electric cells I2, I3 and I4. This system may begim-I balled by turning the carrier in respect to the ray of light orenergy it is possible for the ray to fall on any of these cells and theincidence of the ray on a cell establishes a substantial flow of currentthrough it.I Various means may be emlll lployed for turning the carrierI in respect 'to the ray or beam of iight. Ii the carrier Il isimmovable in respect to the ship it must turn with the heading of theship. Other ways of turning the carrier will be presently described. Inthe immediately following description the turning movement of thecarrier is initiated by change in heading of the ship or, in other Wordsby the ship, and follow-hack turning -movement of the carrier iseilected by mechanism that will be described. in course indicatinfr orrecording, change in heading of the ship with respect to the directionestablished by the beam oi light causes the latter to fall upon one orthe other ci the cells i2, it and lli. the center cell i3 positioned inthe heain oi light it is energized and its relay connections l5 serve tohold both the contacts and il'l open. Merely for the salie ofdescription, and referring to Fig. e, it may he assumed that the centerline c-d or the carrier il through the cell and the center or luhberline ii-h or" the ship are in coincidence and that the seam of lightc-c, fixed in terrestrial space, coincides with the lines a-c and o-hand falls on the cell i3, and. as a inodication it may fall upon a blankspace between the cells l2 and I4. In either case the motor 20 is atrest. One or 'the other of the cells i2 or i4 may he brought into thebeam or light c-c because of change of heading of the vessel whichdisplaces the lines b-'o in respect to the beam c-c. Referring to Figure5 the heading of the ship or line b-b has changed in respect to the beamc.-c.' The carrier II has turned as a unit with the ship and the cell I2has been moved into the beam c-c. It may be remarked that the change inheading of the ship may be intentionally brought about by handsteering,` or in fact any kind of steering. Under the assumption thatthe beam falls upon the cell I2, Fig. 5, its relay circuit I9 isenergized and the contact IT is closed with the result that the motor20, acting as the follow-back, is run in one direction and actingthrough the sprocket chain 2I and through the sprocket chain 22 andgearing 23 turns the carrier back and the angular turning motion of thecarrier is in reverse direction to the turning of the ship and is afunction of the turning motion of the ship, and this condition obtainsuntil the cell I3 is brought into position in line with the ray or beam.By way of further explanation the ship and the carrier have been turnedas a unit through the angle defined by lines b--b and c-c, incounter-clockwise direction and the carrier II has been turned clockwisein respect to the ship through the same lll angle (Figure 6). Furtherchange in heading of the ship in the same direction puts the cell I2again in the beamand the described step is repeated. The carrier and theindicator are, the carrier, in respect to the ship, and the indicator27, in respect to its pointer 23, by increments, turned through an anglesubstantially corresponding with the angle through which the ship isturned. It may be remarked that the turning of thc carrier throughsubstantially the same angle as measures the deviation of the shipaffords means which may be applied in a variety of ways insteering'means. In this portion of the description it is applied foroperating one or more course indicators and/or recorders and forcontrolling a reversible controller for automatic steering.

If the cell itl, instead of the cell I2, had been brought into line withthe beam the contact I6 is closed producing the -described result butrunning the motor in the opposite direction. Inasmuch'as the shafts 2li'and 25 and the shaft 26, which turns the carrier. li, are by the gearing23 turned in synchronism the shaft 213 may be used as a means fordriving the course indicator 27 which is shown as a disk turned inrespect to an adjustably Xed pointer 28. Similarly the shaft 25 may beused to drive a contactor 29,

which through electrical connections 33, drives another course indicator3l, and also a course recorder 32.

To change the course use is made of the motor 33. The motor clutch 36 isnormally engaged on the shaft 35, but when the hand operated reversingswitch 36 is thrown in one direction or the other to change the coursethe motor 33 is run in one direction or the other and at the same timethe clutch Sil is disengaged so as to free the shaft 35 from chainsprocket 2l by reason of the circuit 37 which energizes the magnets 38of the clutch. The operation of the mmotor 33 is to turn the shaft 35,shaft 2li, gearing 23, and

the gearing 23 turns the carrier II which establishes a new course andat the same time the course indicators 27 and 3| and the course recorder32 are appropriately operated. 'Ihe hand wheel l0 may be engaged withthe shaft 2G and used to turn the gearing 23 and in that way establish anew course. It may be remarked that by turning the carrier I I theposition of the cells I2, I3 and Hl is angularly changed in respect tothe beam which is fixed-in space and therefore equilibrium is notestablished until theheadin'g of the ship shall have brought the beaminto incidencewith the cell i3.

To automatically steer the ship by the photoelectric mechanism describedthe clutch I is engaged. The motor 20 is then a steering motor and thefollow back is in accordance with 'rudder movement by way of shaft 6,sprocket 2i, shaft 35, and connections 22, 2li, 23 and 26. Assuming thatthe group of electronic devices has been so positioned on the ship thatthe ray or beam of light falls on the middle cell I3 when the ship isheaded in the desired course, it is evident that the steering motor 20is at rest and the rudder is consequently at rest. Now if the shipsheading changes or deviates from the established course either theelectronic device I2 or I4 is brought into line-with the beam or ray andis therefore energized. The effect of energizing either of theseelectronic devices is to cause it, acting through its relay circuit andthe appropriate one of the circuit closers I6 and I7, to run the motor20 in one direction or the other to bring the heading of the ship-y backto its established course. The turning motion of the rudder transmittedthrough the gearing 2l, 22, 23 and 26 turns the carrier II so as to keepthe cell I3 in line with the beam whereupon the steering motor 20 againcomes to rest. During the described operation the course indicators 27and 3l and the course recorder 32 are operated sprocket i3 is a meansfor a follow-back. The

follow-back i3 drives thecircular contact track element titl and theroller contact element l5 is driven, for example, from a repeater motorllt. The repeater motor it may be driven from the circuit 3@ which iscontrolled by the photo-electric cells i2, i3 and lil with respect totheir position with reference to the beam or ray of light or energyfixed in space. The repeater i6 turns in one direction or the other inresponse toheading of the ship from the established-course, and

in doing so it closes one or the other of the relay contacts i7 and Il@thus turning the steering motor l2 in one direction or the other and thesteering motor i2 through the sprocket chain Ell turns the steeringshaft l5 in one direction or the other. The follow-back acting by Way ofthe sprocket chain Q3 turns the track element i6 until the follow-backagain establishes a position in which the rollers rest upon theinsulation 5I and the motor i2 is at rest. 52 is a hand wheel or crankby means of which the track Ml which carries the insulation 5I may beshifted or turned in order to change the course. The repeater motor itmaybe replaced by a mechanical device such as gear wheels from shaft 25in much the vsame Way as the course indicator is driven.

The dial 27 may be provided with compass indications and it land theindicator 28 are relatively adjustable to correct for error of compass,or to synchronize the indicator with other parts of the apparatus. Thisalso applies to course indicator 3l and course recorder 32.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which the inventionrelates that modifications may be made in details of construction andarrangement and in matters cf mere form without departing from thespirit of the invention which is not limited in respect to such mattersor otherselectively responsive to said beam, means forV effectingrelative movement between said beam and said devices in response to'change of the courseof said craft, whereby one of said devices isselectively activated, a motor, means controllable by said devices foractuating said motor, h

means actuated by said motor for eiecting follow-back relative movementbetween said beam and said devices, manually operable mechanism foractuating said rudder, means whereby said motor may be connected at willto said mechayses nism to actuate said rudder automatically, a secondmotor, means actuated by said first motor by vsaid motor for effectingfollow-baci: relative'A movement between said beam and said devices,manually operable mechanism for actuating said rudder, means wherebysaid motor may be connected at will to said mechanism to actuate saidrudder automatically, a second motor, means operable by saidbeam-responsive devices for conl 'trolling saidl second motor, and meanswhereby said second motor may be connected at will to said mechamm.

3. Apparatus for steering and indicating the course of a diriglble crafthaving a rudder, ccmprising means for providing a beam oi' radiantenergy, a plurality of devices selectively responsive to said beam,means for etiecting relative movement between said beam and said devicesin response to change of the course of said crait, whereby one of saiddevices is selectively activated, a motor, means controllable by saiddevices for actuating said motor, means actuated .by said motor ioreffecting follow-back relative' movement between said beam and saiddevices, manually operable mechanism for actuating said rudder, meanswhereby said motor may be connected at will to said mechanism to actuatesaid rudder automatically, manually operable means for eecting relativemovement between said beam and said devices to change the course of thecraft during automatic actuation ci said rudder, a seccnd motor, meansactuated by said first motor for controlling said second motor, andmeans whereby said second motor may be connected at will to saidmechanism.

4. Apparatus for steering and indicating the course oir a dirigiblecraft having a rudder, comprising means for providing a beam of radiantenergy, a plurality of devices selectively responsiveto said beam, meansfor eiectlng relative movement between said beam and said devices inresponse to change of the course of said craft, 4whereby one of saiddevices is selectively activated, a motor, means controllable by saiddevices for actuating said motor, means actuated by said motor foreffecting follow-back relative movement between said beam and saiddevices, manually operable mechanism for actuating saidf rudder, meanswhereby said motor may be connected at will to said mechanism to actuatesaid rudder automatically, manually controllable electrically operable`means for effecting relative movement between said beam and saiddevices to change the course of the craft during automatic actuation ofsaid rudder, a secondmotor, means actuated by said first motor forcontrolling said second motor, and means whereby said second motor maybe connected at will to said mechanism.

5. Apparatus for steering` a dirigible craft having a rudder, comprisingmeans for providing a beam of radiant energy, a plurality of devicesselectively responsive to said beam, means for eiecting relativemovement between said beam and said devices in response to change of thecourse of said craft, whereby one of said devices is. selectivelyactivated, a motor, means controllable by said devices for actuatingsaid motor, means actuated by said motor for effecting follow-backrelative movement between said beam and said devices, manually operablemechanism for actuating said rudder, a second motor, means whereby saidsecond motor may be connected at will to said mechanism to operate saidrudder automatically, means including a reversible switching devicehaving a neutral position for controlling said second motor, meansoperable by said beam-responsive devices for actuating said switchingdevice, and follow-baci: means operable by said mechanism to restoresaid switching device to its neutral position.

5. Apparatus for steering a dirigible craft having a rudder, comprisingmeans iorproviding a beam oi radiant energy, a plurality of devicesselectively responsive to said beam, means lor efiecting -relativemovement between said beam and said devices in response to change of thecourse of said craft, whereby one of said devices is selectivelyactivated, a motor, means controllable by said devices for actuatingsaid motor, means actuated by said motor for effecting ilollow-bacl;relative, movement between said beam and said devices, manually operablemechanism for actuating said rudder, a second motor, means whereby saidsecond motor may be connected at will to said mechanism to operate saidrudder automatically, means including a reversible switching deviceleaving a neutral position 'for controlling said second motor, moansoperable 'by said beamresponsive devices for actuating said switchingdevice, follow-bacia means operable by said mechanism 'to restore saidswitching device to its neutrai position, and manually operable meansfor actuating said switching device to change the course of the craftduring automatic operation oi said rudder.

il. Apparatus ier steering a dirigible craft ing a rudder, comprisingmeans for providing a beam ci radiant energ* means responsive to saidbeam, means for causing said beam to activate said beam-responsive meansin response to deviation oi the craft from its course, a motor adaptedto actuate said rudder, means including a reversible switching devicehaving a neutral position for controlling said motor, a repeater motorfor actuating said switching device means means operable by saidbeam-responsive means for controlling said repeater motor, andfollowback means responsive to the rudder actuation for restoring saidswitching device to its neutral position.

8. Apparatus for steering a dirigible craft having a rudder, comprisingmeans for providing a beam of radiant energy, means responsive to saidbeam, means for effecting relative movement between `said beam and saidbeam-responsive means to cause said'beam to activate said beamresponsivemeans in response to deviation of the craft from its course, a motor',means controllable by said beam-responsive means for actuating said fmotor, a driving mechanism operable by said motor, means operable bysaid driving mechanism for effecting follow-back relative movementbetween said beam and said beam-responsive means, manually operablemechanism for actuating said rudder, and means whereby said motor may beconnected at will to said rudder-actuat-` ing mechanism to actuate saidrudder automatically. y

9. Apparatus for steering adirigible craft having a rudder, comprisingmeans for providing a.

, tween said beam and said beam-responsive means, manually operablemechanism for actuating said rudder, means whereby said motor may beconnected at will to said rudder-actuating mechanism to actuate saidrudder automatically, and manually operable means for actuating saiddriving mechanism to vary the relation between said beam and saidbeam-responsive means and thereby change the course of the craft durinc,automatic actuation of said rudder.

l0. Apparatus for steering a dirigible craft having a rudder, comprisingmeans for providing a beam of radiant energy, means responsive to saidbeam, means for eecting relative movement between said beam and saidbeam-responsive means to cause said beam-to activate saidbeam-responsive means in response to deviation of the craft from itscourse, a motor, means controllable Vby said beam-responsive means foractuating said motor, a driving mechanism operable by saidmotor, meansoperable by said driving mechanism for edecting follow-back relativemovement between said beam and said beam-responsive means, `iminuallyoperable mechanism for actuating said rudder, means whereby said motormay be connected at will to said rudderactuating mechanism to actuatesaid rudder automatically, and manually-controllableelectrically-operable means for actuating said driving mechanism to varythe relation between said beam and said beam-responsive means andthereby change the course of the craft during automatic actuation ofsaid rudder.

li. Apparatus for steering a dirigible crait having a rudder, comprisingmeans for providing a beam or radiant energy, means responsive to saidbeam, means for effecting relative movement between said beam and saidbeam-responsive means to cause said beam to activate saidybeamresponsive means in response to deviation of the craft from itscourse, a motor, means controllable by said beam-responsive means foractuating said motor, a driving mechanism operable by said mcwr, meansoperable by said driving mechanism for effecting follow-back relativemovement between said beam and said beamresponsive means, a second motoradapted to actuate said rudder, means including a reversible switchingdevice having a neutral position for controlling said second niotor,lmeans operablel by said driving connection for actuating said switchdevice, and follow-back means responsive to the rudder actuation forrestoring said switchine device to its neutral position.

earrron CHANCE.

